Hundreds of protesters organized by the Service Employees International Union left the area outside the UPMC corporate offices on Grant Street after Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued a statement asking them to "disband" and "return home."

PITTSBURGH MAYOR BILL PEDUTO IS TALKING TO PITTSBURGH ACTION NEWS 4 REPORTER AMBER NICOTRA ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS. Reporter: THEY BRAVED THE COLD. HUNDREDS GATHERED ONCE AGAIN TO PROTEST AGAINST UPMC, ASKING FOR BETTER PAYING JOBS. ARMED WITH SIGNS AND DRUMS CHANTING FOR MORE WAGES, HUNDREDS OF UPMC WORKERS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS ARE BACK AT IT AGAIN. OUR DEMANDS ARE SIMPLE. $15 AN HOUR STARTING, BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT'S ENOUGH TO GET US UP OUT OF POVERTY. Reporter: SHE SAYS SHE CAN BARELY AFFORD TO SURVIVE ON HER WAGES FROM WORKING IN THE CAFETERIA. IT'S WHY SHE'S AMONG MANY OF THE COOKS, CUSTODIANS AND OTHER BLUE COLLAR HEALTH WORKERS WANTING MORE MONEY AND THE RIGHT TO FORM A UNION. WHY CAN'T THEY TREAT THEIR WORKERS WITH MORE RESPECT AND GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE, GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TO EARN A DECENT WAGE? Reporter: UPMC SAYS WORKERS ARE GIVEN THE STARTING WAGE FOR A SERVICE WORKER OF $11. THAT'S MORE, THEY SAY, THAN WHAT'S OFFERED TO SERVICE WORKERS BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE REGION'S EMPLOYERS. THE WORKERS, HOWEVER, SAY IT'S NOT ENOUGH. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE A JOB, TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR SLAVE WAGES. WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE GOOD JOBS FOR THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. Reporter: MAYOR PEDUTO, WHO WAS NOT AT TODAY'S PROTEST, ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING HE'S BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH UPMC LEADERSHIP AND HEARS THE NEEDS OF THE PROTESTERS. HIS HOPE, TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A STRONG AND PROSPEROUS CITY. THESE ARE UPMC WORKERS. THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS. THEY NEED US AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR THEM. Reporter: THE PROTESTERS SAY THEY ARE HOPEFUL FOR A